Sinn Féin - On Your Side

Remarks of DPP Chair attacked

West Belfast Sinn Féin Assembly member Michael Ferguson has hit out at
remarks made by the Chair of the West Belfast DPP, the South Belfast Women's
Coalition member Anne Monaghan, who has recommended keeping Andersonstown
military base open.

Mr Ferguson said:

"It says much about the state of the current policing arrangements when the
Chair of the DDP sub group covering West Belfast is a South Belfast based
Women's Coalition representative. Anne Monaghan represents precisely nobody
in West Belfast, yet she has taken it upon herself to demand that the
military base in Andersonstown remains open.

"Anne Monaghan's political party did not even contest the West Belfast
constituency at the last election such was the pathetic results achieved in
this area by them in the past. She has herself sought election to various
bodies in the past and failed to get community support, yet she now feels
confident enough to demand that the people of West Belfast continue live
under military occupation.

"If Anne Monaghan is so confident of her ground on this issue why does she
not stand for election in this area. Why does she not take her message of
militarisation and repressive policing to the people and seek a mandate to
speak on their behalf. Otherwise Anne Monaghan would be better off keeping
quiet than pretending that the people of West Belfast endorse her or the
brand of failed policing she is attempting to force upon this community."
ENDS